Senior GNC Engineer

Spire Global Inc.; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Spire Global is seeking a GNC/AOCS Engineer to own the attitude and orbit control stack for nanosatellites, from design to on-orbit operations. You will work in a fast-paced, hybrid model in the UK and collaborate with external contractors to optimize reliability and cost.

You will design and implement attitude determination/estimation, develop flight sensor and actuator pathways, and run hardware-in-the-loop simulations to accelerate the bring-up of flight systems.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms.
• Experience designing/implementing Kalman filters for attitude estimation.
• Experience with flight sensors for attitude determination/estimation.
• Familiarity with the Linux development environment.
• Experience working with external engineering contractors.

Responsibilities

• Own current and future spacecraft attitude and orbit control software and hardware.
• Design, model, analyze, integrate and operate attitude estimation systems for small spacecraft.
• Develop dynamics/control simulations, including hardware-in-the-loop.
• Select and implement flight sensors (magnetometers, sun sensors, IMUs, IR sensors, star trackers).
• Select and implement flight actuators (torque elements, reaction wheels, propulsion).
• Hands-on testing and qualification of flight systems in lab/manufacturing environments.
• Support on-orbit operations of attitude control systems.
• Collaborate with contractors, manufacturers, and internal staff to improve reliability and cost.

Skills

Attitude dynamics

Kalman filters

Flight sensors

Linux environment

Contractor coordination

Tools

C/C++ (embedded)

Linux development environment

Job description

As a GNC/AOCS Engineer at Spire, you will operate as part of a technical team who maintains responsibility across the full lifecycle of its engineering products. The GNC team interfaces directly with many engineering groups to conduct R&D, design, manufacturing, and operations activities, ultimately ensuring all current and future spacecraft systems satisfy their mission.

Ideal candidates will embrace the commercialization of nanosatellite systems and adapt to low-cost, fast-paced systems design, development, and implementation methodologies that set Spire apart from our competition. In this fast-paced environment, the design to launch cycle is measured in weeks and months, not years!

What You’ll Do:

• Technical ownership of current and future spacecraft attitude and orbit control software and hardware.
• Design, model, analyze, integrate and operate attitude determination/estimation systems for small spacecraft.
• Develop and utilize spacecraft dynamics and control simulations, including 'hardware-in-the-loop'.
• Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight sensors, including magnetometers, sun sensors, inertial measurement devices, infrared sensors, and/or star trackers.
• Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight actuators, including magnetic torque elements, reaction wheels, and propulsion systems.
• Be hands-on in laboratory and manufacturing environments during testing, integration, and qualification of flight systems.
• Provide support and analysis for on-orbit operations of spacecraft attitude determination and control systems.
• Work with external contractors, manufacturers, and internal manufacturing staff to improve reliability, yield, performance, and cost of flight systems.

Key Skills:

• Extensive experience with a solid foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms, with emphasis on practical application of knowledge.
• Have experience designing and/or implementing Kalman filters for attitude estimation.
• Experience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation.
• Have experience or familiarity with the Linux development environment.
• Have experience working with external engineering contractors.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience writing flight software.
• Experience with C or C++ development for embedded systems.
• Experience with spacecraft design.
• Experience with spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing.
• Experience with spacecraft operations and maintenance.
• Experience identifying and resolving system anomalies.
• Experience creating and maintaining integration and test campaigns for attitude determination and control systems, including hardware and software.

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office. Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses—this is not something candidates need to have before applying. #LI-MI1

About Spire

We improve life on Earth with data from space.

Spire Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Spire’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real-time global coverage of every point on Earth.

Spire is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.

To help maintain a safe and secure workplace for Spire employees, all candidates who receive a conditional offer will be required to complete a background check . This may include criminal history and employment verification.

We can’t always guarantee availability, and some roles may require more specific gear - but when we can, we like to align with your preferences!

As set forth in Spire’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.